Hand shapable cap with adjustable headband

ABSTRACT

A hand shapable cap including a large bulbous body of flexible material for enclosing the hair of the wearer with a headband portion at the rim of the bulbous body for supporting the body on the head of the wearer, and a plurality of nonresilient, hand formable stiffening elements secured to the flexible material of the body permitting the body to be hand formed into a desired free shape according to the coiffure of the wearer so that the body can enclose the hair but at the same time remain substantially out of contact therewith when the cap is supported on the head of the wearer, the headband portion having elastic and nonelastic segments permitting the headband to be extended to its maximum circumference so as not to disturb the coiffure as the cap is placed on the head of the wearer, and adjustable means on the headband for selectively adjusting the length of the nonelastic segment and hence the tension of the elastic segment to secure the headband to the head of the wearer.

United States Patent 1 Pollack et al.

[ 1 HAND SHAPABLE CAP WITH ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND Inventors: Devora Finsilver, 7344 Deep Run Drive, Birmingham, Mich. 48010; Shirley Pollack, 1830 Balmoral, Detroit, Mich. 48203 Filed: Dec. 22, 1970 Appl. No.: 100,746

US. Cl ..2/l97 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,259,571 3/1961 France ..2/l97 Feb. 6, 1973 5 7 ABSTRACT A hand shapable cap including a large bulbous body of flexible material for enclosing the hair of the wearer with a headband portion at the rim of the bulbous body for' supporting the body on the head of the 'wearer, and a plurality of nonresilient, hand formable stiffening elements secured to the flexible material of the body permitting the body to be hand formed into a desired free shape according to the coiffure of the wearer so that the body can enclose the hair but at the same time remain substantially out of contact therewith when the cap is supported on the head of the wearer, the headband portion having elastic and nonelastic segments permitting the headband to be extended to its maximum circumference so as not to disturb the coiffure as the cap is placed on the head of the wearer, and adjustable means on the headband for selectively adjusting the length of the nonelastic segment and hence the tension of the elastic segment to secure the headband to the head of the wearer.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures HAND SHAPABLE CAP WITH ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND This invention relates generally to head coverings and is particularly concerned with caps or hats for protecting the coiffure of the wearer from water and wind while showering, bathing, riding in an open vehicle, and

similar activities Many fashionable hairdos or coiffures are large and elaborate and are difficult to repair when disturbed by wind or water. 'Some elaborate coiffures or hairdos will collapse if subjected to even moderately disturbing forces or pressures. This type of hairdo is particularly susceptible to being disturbed when taking a shower,

swimming, riding in an open vehicle or other activities wherein the hairdo is subjected to water or high winds.

Our prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,019,444 of Feb. 6, 1962 discloses a head covering wherein a plurality of nonresilient, hand deformable stiffening members are secured to flexible material so that the flexible material can be hand formed into any desired free shape to enclose the hair of the wearer without contacting the hair. The cap disclosed in the latter patent includes an elastic free edge or headband for supporting the cap on the head of the wearer. In order to provide the elastic headband, it is necessary to gather the flexible material making up the cap at its free end, after which the elastic member is stitched, stapled, or otherwise secured to the gathered material. The elastic headband can thus be stretched only to a length determined by the spacing and arrangement of the stitches which secure the elastic to the gathered material, which length is of course less than the fully extended, non-gathered length of the free end of the' flexible material. Consequently, in order to provide aheadband that can be stretched over extremely wide hairdos or coiffures so as not to disturb the hairdo when the cap is placed on the head of the wearer, the unstretched length of the headband must be large compared with the maximum, stretched length thereof. Accordingly, there frequently is insufficient tension applied to the elastic headband when it is placed on the head of the wearer to provide a proper support for the cap or hat. On the other hand, if sufficient tension is provided by the elastic headband to support the cap, it is difficult, if not impossible, to stretch the headband sufflciently to clear extremely wide hairdos as the cap is placed on or removed from the head of the wearer.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved hand shapable cap for accommodating a variety of hair styles or coiffures wherein the headband can be extended to a circumferential length capable of receiving the maximum sized coiffure or hairdo to be received in the cap when the cap is placed on or removed from the head of the wearer, but which headband'can be adjusted toany desired length in order to secure the cap to the head of the wearer.

In carrying out the foregoing, and other objects, a cap according to the present invention includes a large bulbous body of flexible material for enclosing the hair of the wearer with a headband portion at the rim of the bulbous body for supporting the body on the head of the wearer. A plurality of nonresilient, hand formable stiffening elements are secured to the flexible material of the body to permit the body to be hand formed into any desired free shape according to the coiffure of the wearer so that the bulbous bodyv can enclose the hair ments permitting the headband to be extended to the maximum circumference of the cap so as not to disturb the coiffure as the cap is placed on or removed from the head of the wearer. Adjustable me'an are provided on the headband forselectively adjusting the length of the nonelastic segment and hence the tension of the elastic segment to secure the headband to the head of the wearer.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap according to the present invention supported on the head of a wearer; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cap removed from the head of the wearer.

The cap illustrated in the drawing includes a large bulbous body 10 of flexible material 12 for enclosing the hair of the wearer with a headband portion 14 at the rim of the bulbous body 10 for supporting the cap on the head of the wearer. A plurality of nonresilient, hand deformable stiffening elements 16 are secured to the flexible material 12 of the body portion 10 to permit the body portion 10 to be hand formed into any desired free shape according to the hair style or coiffure of the wearer so that the body 10 can enclose the hair but at the same time remain substantially out of contact with the hair when the cap is supported on the head of the wearer.

The stiffening members 16 may be formed of material such as a plastic, a heavily stiffened fabric, or a metal which may be easily bent to assume a curve and which is nonresilient so that it will retain the shape that it is given. The stiffening elements 16 in the illustrated embodiment extend radially from a circular bottom 18 at the center of the body 12 to the headband portion 14 and thus define a deformable framework for supporting the flexible material 12 in any desired shape. I

In order to place the cap on the head of the wearer, or to remove it from the head of the wearer, it is necessary to enlarge the headband portion'from the length shown in FIG. 1. In accordance with the present invention, the headband portion 14 includes an elastic segment 18 and a nonelastic segment 20 which permits the headband portion to be extended to the maximum circumference of the body 10 as indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2 so that the headband portion will not disturb the coiffure as the cap is placed on the head of the wearer. The free edge of the flexible material 12 is gathered at the elastic segment, and the gathered material is stitched, stapled, or otherwise secured in a conventional manner to an elongated elastic member 19 extending throughout and defining the length of the elastic segment 18. When the elastic segment 18 is stretched to its maximum length and the nonelastic segment 20 is extended to its full length, the headband 14 will have the approximate length illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 2. Adjustable means is provided on the headband for selectively adjusting the length of the nonelastic segment 20 after the cap has been placed on VELCRO and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,235 of Nov. 21 1961, including flexible hooks 28 mounted on strap 22 and flexible loops 26 mounted on strap 24 (or vice versa) which are engageably by the hooks 28. Consequently, the straps 24 and 22 can be secured together by pressing the hooks 28 against the loops 26. Thus, the

length of the nonelastic segment can be adjusted as desired to provide the proper amount of tension on the elastic segment 18 to maintain the cap in the proper position on the wearers head by merely gathering or folding the segment 20 as the ends thereof are pulled closer together by straps 22 and 24. The strap 28 can be stitched or glued along its entire length to the nonelastic segment 20.

The flexible material 12 of the cap can be waterproof material such as plastic for use as a shower cap, or may of course be made of any other flexible material such as cloth or leather, etc. and can be decorated as desired.

The deformable ribs or stiffening elements 1-6 can be hand deformed to provide any desired shape of the body portion 10 of the cap, and the headband 14 can be expanded to the full transverse dimension of the body portion 10 as illustrated in phantom line in FIG. 2.

The drawings thus illustrate a hat or cap comprising an enclosure 10 of cloth, plastic, leather, or other flexible material 12 supported in any desired shape by a framework made up of deformable strips 16 radiating from the button 18 at the center of the flexible material 12 to the free edge thereof, and an adjustable headband portion 14 defined at the free end of the flexible material including an elastic portion 18 and a been disclosed in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown. Alterations in the construction and arrangement of parts, all falling within the scope and spirit of the invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A cap including a large bulbous body of flexible material with a narrow circumferential headband at the rim of said body for engaging the head of the wearer below the hair-line, said headband being the only sup port for said body on the head of the wearer in such a manner that said body is adapted to completely enclose a particular style of coiffure freely, a plurality of nonresilient, hand deformable stiffening elements secured to the flexible material of said body and extending from the headband to the to of the bod ermittin the body to be hand formed into a desireli free shap according to the coiffure of the wearer so that the bulbous body can enclose the hair but at the same time remain substantially out of contact therewith when the cap is supported on the head of the wearer below the hairline by said headband, wherein the improvement comprises said headband having a continuous circumferential elastic segment having a length sufficient to form the portion of the headband that encompasses the front and sides of the head of the wearer below the hairline, and a continuous circumferential nonelastic segment connecting the ends of said elastic segment for forming the portion of the headband that encompasses the rear of the head of the wearer below the hairline, said headband being resiliently extendable to the maximum circumference of said body so as not to disturb the coiffure of the wearer as the cap is placed onto or removed from the head of the wearer, and adjustable means on said headband for selectively adjusting the length of the nonelastic segment and hence the tension of said elastic segment to secure the headbandto the head of the wearer so that the headband can have the smallest circumferential length of any portion of the bulbous body, said adjustable means comprising a pair of straps each havingone end secured to said headband at the opposite ends of the nonelastic segment, and interengageable fastening means on said straps for securing said straps together at selected positions along the lengths thereof, said interengageable fastening means comprising a plurality of flexible hooks mounted on one of said straps and a plurality of flexible loops mounted on the other of said straps engage-ably by said hooks so that the straps can be secured togetherat any selected location along their lengths by pressing overlapping portions of the straps together.

I s: at m s: 

1. A cap including a large bulbous body of flexible material with a narrow circumferential headband at the rim of said body for engaging the head of the wearer below the hair-line, said headband being the only support for said body on the head of the wearer in such a manner that said body is adapted to completely enclose a particular style of coiffure freely, a plurality of nonresilient, hand deformable stiffening elements secured to the flexible material of said body and extending from the headband to the top of the body permitting the body to be hand formed into a desired free shape according to the coiffure of the wearer so that the bulbous body can enclose the hair but at the same time remain substantially out of contact therewith when the cap is supported on the head of the wearer below the hairline by said headband, wherein the improvement comprises said headband having a continuous circumferential elastic segment having a length sufficient to form the portion of the headband That encompasses the front and sides of the head of the wearer below the hairline, and a continuous circumferential nonelastic segment connecting the ends of said elastic segment for forming the portion of the headband that encompasses the rear of the head of the wearer below the hairline, said headband being resiliently extendable to the maximum circumference of said body so as not to disturb the coiffure of the wearer as the cap is placed onto or removed from the head of the wearer, and adjustable means on said headband for selectively adjusting the length of the nonelastic segment and hence the tension of said elastic segment to secure the headband to the head of the wearer so that the headband can have the smallest circumferential length of any portion of the bulbous body, said adjustable means comprising a pair of straps each having one end secured to said headband at the opposite ends of the nonelastic segment, and interengageable fastening means on said straps for securing said straps together at selected positions along the lengths thereof, said interengageable fastening means comprising a plurality of flexible hooks mounted on one of said straps and a plurality of flexible loops mounted on the other of said straps engage-ably by said hooks so that the straps can be secured together at any selected location along their lengths by pressing overlapping portions of the straps together. 